What to have ready before you call
Shops need specific nameplate and failure data to quote accurately; having it ready typically cuts quote turnaround from about 24 hours to under an hour.
The same packet is what you should use when you search nearby shops. Filter listings by voltage class and motor type first, then call the two or three shops whose service radius actually covers your plant, a shop 40 miles away that lists pickup in your county is often faster than a closer shop that only accepts drop-off during business hours. If you only have a city and HP, you will get a “call us” quote; if you have FLA, frame, enclosure, and photos, many shops will give a written range the same day.
- 1. Nameplate data
- Record manufacturer, model, horsepower, voltage, full-load amps (FLA), RPM, frame size, NEMA design letter, service factor, enclosure type (ODP, TEFC, or explosion-proof), and insulation class. Shops use HP and voltage to scope rewind copper and insulation; frame size confirms whether a replacement will bolt in if repair is ruled out; insulation class tells them whether a straight rewind is enough or the winding should be upgraded (for example Class F versus Class H). If the nameplate is missing or painted over, they must test-determine specs before quoting, add 1 to 2 days, and expect a higher inspection fee because they are reverse-engineering the machine instead of matching a catalog winding.
- 2. Failure symptoms
- Describe what the motor did before it stopped: tripped overload relay, high current, grinding, humming, knocking, heat, vibration, or a no-start. Symptom patterns narrow diagnosis. Repeated overload trips often point to thermal insulation damage; grinding on startup is usually bearings; a hum with no rotation often means a failed capacitor on single-phase or a lost phase on three-phase.
- 3. Operating context
- Note the driven load (pump, compressor, conveyor, fan), hours per day, and environment (outdoor, dusty, wet, chemical, high ambient). That tells the shop whether the failure is application-related. A 20 HP motor on a pump that actually needs 30 HP will fail again in 12 to 18 months if you rewind it without correcting the undersizing.
- 4. Failure history
- How many times has this motor been repaired or rewound? A first failure on a 5-year-old motor is a different decision than a third repair on a 20-year-old unit. Shops use that history to recommend repair versus replace and to spot chronic application problems that a rewind will not fix.
- 5. Urgency
- Say whether this is production-critical downtime (often $1,000+ per hour) or a non-critical spare. Shops triage jobs differently. If you need emergency turnaround, say so on the first call, emergency fees typically run 25 to 50% above standard rates but can compress a 7-day repair into 24 to 48 hours.
- 6. Photos
- Send a photo of the nameplate and any visible damage (burn marks, broken windings, water ingress, impact). Many shops can pre-diagnose from photos and give a ballpark before the motor arrives, which can save a trip if the unit is already a replace candidate.
Matching your motor type to the right repair shop
Not all motor repair shops handle all motor types. A shop that is “near you” on a map is useless if they subcontract your voltage class or send servo work out of state. Here is what to look for by motor type, and what questions to ask before shipping. For plant-scale frames, medium-voltage, and process-critical equipment, also see industrial motor repair.
AC induction motors (three-phase and single-phase)
This is the most widely repaired type, most established shops within a typical 50 to 100 mile service radius handle it. For three-phase motors above 100 HP, confirm rewind capability at your voltage and that they have done your frame size before; a shop that mainly rewinds 5 to 25 HP HVAC motors will not have VPI tanks or burnout ovens sized for a 326T or 404T frame. For single-phase, ask whether they handle your specific winding (capacitor-start, capacitor-run, or split-phase). EASA-accredited shops are the safest choice for any AC rewind because accreditation requires core-loss testing before and after burnout, which protects nameplate efficiency. If two nearby shops both rewind AC, pick the one that will put those before/after core-loss numbers on the job traveler.
DC motors
DC work needs armature rewinding, commutator resurfacing, and brush-gear inspection, capabilities not every shop keeps after the industry shifted to AC drives. Ask whether they have an armature lathe and a growler (armature tester) on site. Shops without those tools subcontract armature work, which adds days and a markup, and you lose a single point of accountability if the commutator fails in 90 days. DC repair is still common on older crane, hoist, and rolling-mill drives; shops that serve those industries usually keep active DC capability. If the nearest listing is 150 miles away but has an armature lathe, that is usually faster than a closer shop that will freight the armature to a third party.
Servo motors
Servo repair requires encoder replacement, feedback calibration, and often proprietary diagnostic software. Most general shops do not do this; sending a servo to a shop without the right benches can return a motor that spins but will not hold closed-loop accuracy on a CNC axis or packaging line. Ask whether they can test encoder output (lines per revolution, commutation signals) and verify velocity/position loop performance before return. Specialized servo rebuild shops, not a general rewind bench, are the right category. A “near me” listing that only mentions AC/DC rewinding is not a servo shop; keep searching by capability, not by pin drop.
High-voltage motors (above 4 kV)
High-voltage repair needs hi-pot equipment rated for the motor’s class, specialized coil forming, and form-wound coil experience, random-wound methods used on low-voltage motors do not apply above 4 kV. Confirm they have rewound at your voltage (4160 V, 6600 V, 13.2 kV) and ask for industry references. These rewinds often run $15,000 to $100,000+ on large frames and cannot be undone if the coils are built wrong. Expect fewer shops in any metro; it is normal to ship a 4160 V motor across a state line to the shop that actually owns a form-wound coil bench and a hi-pot set rated above your test voltage.
Specialty and wound equipment (transformers, coils)
Transformer repair and specialty coil winding are separate disciplines from motor repair, even when the same company lists both. If you have a transformer or custom coil, verify they have a winding machine and dip-and-bake capability for your voltage class, and that they have done similar work, not just that it appears on a services list.
For a full breakdown of service types and what each repair involves, see Types of electric motor repair services.
How to evaluate a motor repair shop before you ship your motor
Choosing the wrong shop costs more than the invoice, a poor rewind can fail within months, and a shop without the right equipment will subcontract work and split accountability. Use the directory to shortlist shops that already list your motor type and emergency hours, then spend the phone call on these five questions. Write the answers down; if two shops quote similar dollars, the testing report, in-house rewind, and warranty terms are how you break the tie.
1. Ask for their EASA accreditation status
EASA (Electrical Apparatus Service Association) accreditation is the clearest independent signal of repair practice. Accredited shops must follow EASA AR100, including core-loss testing before and after stator burnout, the step that protects efficiency during rewind. Non-accredited shops may still do careful work, but there is no third-party check. Verify the shop’s current accreditation on the EASA member directory (search easa.com, do not take a logo on a homepage as proof). If they say they “follow AR100” but are not accredited, ask which core-loss tester they use and whether they will attach before/after watts-loss numbers to your traveler.
2. Ask what testing they perform after repair
Every shop should perform at minimum insulation resistance (megohm) testing, winding resistance measurement, and a no-load run before returning the motor. Stronger shops also run hi-pot, vibration analysis, and thermal imaging under load. Ask for a written test report with the motor, megohm values, winding ohms per phase, no-load amps, and vibration in in/s if they balance. If they will not provide a report, you have no documented baseline the next time the same motor fails, and you cannot compare two nearby shops on anything except price.
3. Ask whether they rewind in-house or subcontract
Some shops send rewind work to another facility. That is not automatically a problem, but it adds time, cost, and split accountability, if the rewind fails, the shop you hired may point at the subcontractor. Ask directly: “Is all rewind work performed in your facility?” If they subcontract, ask who, and whether you can contact that facility.
4. Ask for references in your industry
A shop that repairs pumps at a water plant may not have documentation habits for explosion-proof motors in a chemical facility. Ask for two or three references in your sector and call them. Shops that work regularly in your industry already know the traveler sheets, material certs, and weld logs regulated plants require.
5. Ask about their warranty
Standard coverage is 12 months on parts and labor; some shops offer 18 to 24 months. Ask what it covers (rewind only versus mechanical parts), what voids it (misapplication, overload), and how a claim is processed. A shop confident in its work will not haggle on those terms.
Browse EASA-accredited and certified shops in the IQMotorBase directory →
Browse repair shops in your state
For a complete shop selection checklist, see How to choose an electric motor repair shop.
Repair or replace? The decision most shops won't make for you
The widely cited rule is: if repair cost exceeds 50% of a new equivalent motor, lean toward replacement. That is a starting point, not a hard stop. A motor on a critical process may be worth repairing at 70% of replacement cost if a new unit is 8 weeks out. A motor running 24/7 may be worth replacing at 40% if the failure points to a design-life issue rather than a one-time fault. Local stock changes this: if a NEMA Premium equivalent is on a distributor shelf 20 miles away, replacement wins more often than if the same frame is 14 weeks from the OEM.
Efficiency changes the math. Motors built before 2007 predate EISA efficiency mandates and may run at 88 to 91%. Current NEMA Premium motors typically run at 93 to 96%. For a 50 HP motor at 6,000 hours per year and $0.12/kWh, that 4 to 5% gap is roughly $1,200 to $1,500 per year. If the motor misses NEMA Premium and runs more than 4,000 hours per year, energy savings can pay for replacement in 2 to 3 years, factor that in before you authorize another rewind.
Failure history is the third dimension. A first failure on a well-matched, well-maintained motor in good physical condition is almost always worth repairing. A second or third rewind, or the same failure repeating, is telling you about application fit or operating conditions that a rewind will not fix. Ask the shop: “Based on what you have seen, is there a reason to expect this motor to fail the same way again?” A shop that inspects motors all day will usually answer that honestly.
Parts availability can override cost. Above 250 HP, on obsolete frames, or on OEM-discontinued designs, replacement can take 12 to 20 weeks. Then repair is often the only practical option regardless of the 50% rule. Confirm whether the shop has parts in stock and at what lead time, if a critical piece is coming from overseas, build that risk into your outage plan before you commit.
Full repair vs. replace framework with cost calculators: When to repair or replace an electric motor.
What motor repair costs near you, and when to question a quote
Cost varies by motor size, repair scope, and urgency. Metro shops with overnight freight lanes often quote toward the high end of a range; rural shops with pickup trucks may look cheaper until you add a 90-mile round trip and a second day of downtime. The ranges below are typical for CONUS shops at standard (non-emergency) turnaround, use them to calibrate a quote, not as a bid.
- Bearing replacement, fractional to 25 HP
- $150 to $600
- Bearing replacement, 25 to 100 HP
- $400 to $1,200
- Full rewind, 1 to 10 HP
- $400 to $900
- Full rewind, 10 to 50 HP
- $1,200 to $3,500
- Full rewind, 50 to 200 HP
- $3,000 to $9,000
- Emergency surcharge
- 25 to 50% above the standard rate
- Freight / pickup
- $150 to $600 depending on motor size and distance
Quotes that come in significantly below these ranges warrant a question about whether EASA AR100 practices are being followed, very cheap rewinds often skip core-loss testing, which accelerates re-failure.
Find a shop and request a quote for your motor →
Browse repair shops in your state
Full cost guide with ranges by HP, repair type, and region: Electric motor repair and rewinding costs.
Emergency motor repair: what to do in the next 60 minutes
If a motor failure is causing active production downtime, these are the steps to take right now. Do not wait for a web form reply. Use the location finder on this page to identify shops that already serve your state, then call the ones that list emergency or 24-hour intake.
1. Document the failure first.
Before anything is touched, photograph the nameplate, the terminal box, and any visible damage. That data is needed for every quote and can speed authorization by hours.
2. Call shops directly, don't use contact forms.
Search the IQMotorBase directory for shops in your state that list emergency service. Call them. Emergency authorization happens on the phone, not via a web form.
3. Tell them your downtime cost.
Shops with emergency capacity triage by impact. “This motor is down and costing us $4,000/hour” gets different treatment than a generic emergency request. Be specific.
4. Confirm emergency capability explicitly.
Ask: “Can you start this motor today and return it within 48 hours?” Some shops mean next-week priority, not same-day intake. Confirm the actual start date and return date before authorizing transport.
5. Arrange transport, not repair, first.
Getting the motor to the shop is usually the bottleneck. Ask whether they can dispatch pickup, many emergency-capable shops have trucks. If you arrange freight, use air-ride suspension so transit does not add mechanical damage.
Find emergency motor repair shops →
Browse repair shops in your state
Full emergency motor repair guide: Emergency motor repair: what to do.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I find an electric motor repair shop near me?
Use the IQMotorBase directory to browse certified repair shops by state. Filter by motor type (AC, DC, servo, high-voltage) and service region. You can also submit a repair request and be matched with shops that serve your area.
- What information do I need before contacting a motor repair shop?
Gather the motor nameplate data: manufacturer, model number, horsepower (HP), voltage, RPM, frame size, and enclosure type. Also note the failure symptoms, unusual noise, tripped overloads, vibration, or smoke. Photos of the nameplate and any visible damage speed up the quoting process significantly.
- How much does electric motor repair cost?
Repair costs depend on motor size, failure type, and repair scope. Bearing replacement typically runs $200 to $800. A full rewind on a 50 HP motor typically runs $1,500 to $4,000. As a rule of thumb, if repair cost exceeds 50 to 65% of new motor replacement cost, replacement is worth evaluating. See the full cost guide for ranges by motor HP and repair type.
- What types of electric motors can be repaired?
Most industrial repair shops handle AC induction motors (three-phase and single-phase), DC motors, servo motors, high-voltage motors, and specialty wound equipment like transformers and coils. Servo motor repair requires specific encoder and feedback calibration expertise, confirm this capability before sending a servo motor.
- How long does electric motor repair take?
Standard repair turnaround is 5 to 10 business days for most motors under 200 HP. Large frame motors (above 200 HP), high-voltage rewinding, or jobs requiring custom parts can take 2 to 4 weeks. Emergency shops offer 24 to 72 hour turnaround at premium pricing. Always ask for a written timeline before authorizing work.
- What certifications should I look for in a motor repair shop?
Look for EASA (Electrical Apparatus Service Association) accreditation, it means the shop follows EASA AR100 repair standards, which preserve motor efficiency and quality. ISO 9001 certification indicates documented quality management processes. NEMA, IEEE, and OSHA compliance are baseline requirements for industrial work.
- What is the difference between motor repair and motor rewinding?
Motor repair covers mechanical fixes: bearing replacement, shaft repair, coupling alignment, enclosure work, and electrical connection repairs. Motor rewinding replaces the copper winding inside the stator or armature, required when insulation has broken down due to heat, moisture, or electrical fault. A rewound motor, done to EASA AR100 standards, should perform at or above original nameplate efficiency.
- Do motor repair shops offer pickup and delivery?
Many shops offer pickup and delivery within their service region, particularly for motors too large to ship safely. For out-of-area motors, freight shipping via flatbed or crated LTL is standard. Confirm pickup availability, insurance coverage during transport, and whether the shop provides packaging materials before arranging shipment.